MLB Player News

Third baseman Nolan Arenado helped spark the Rockies' offense to a big performance against the Giants, as he went 4-for-5 with 4 RBIs in Colorado's 11-2 victory Sunday. 

Arenado scored the Rockies' first two runs and then put the capper on Colorado's eight-run fourth inning with a three-run homer, his eighth of the season. 

Arenado fell just a double short of the cycle, as he hit his first triple of the season. All four of Arenado's RBIs came with two outs, as he lifted his average to .275 on the season. 

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon is expected to play in a simulated game on Monday and play 3-4 innings, according to MLB.com.

Rendon, who is currently on the 15-day DL with knee and oblique injuries, was able to participate in batting practice on Saturday. He has taken part in baseball activities, but this will be his first game action since suffering the injuries. Rendon is yet to play this season after posting a .287 average with 21 home runs and 83 RBI in 2014.

After playing both games of Saturday's doubleheader, Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is getting the day off on Sunday against the Giants. 

Brandon Barnes will fill in for Gonzalez and bat sixth. 

Infielder DJ LeMahieu is also getting the day off. Daniel Descalso will play second base instead. Ben Paulsen is filling in for Wilin Rosario, who also has the day off. 

First baseman Pedro Alvarez and second baseman Neil Walker are both out of the Pirates' Sunday lineup. 

Alvarez is replaced by Sean Rodriguez, who gets his second start of the year at first base. Rodriguez will hit sixth.

Walker's absence requires shifts at all other infield positions. Josh Harrison moves over from third place to replace Walker at second. Jung Ho Kang moves to third from shortstop, and Jordy Mercer returns to the lineup at short, for just the second time in eight games. 

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura is expected to be activated from the disabled list by this Friday's game against the Diamondbacks, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. 

Segura, who has a broken finger, has an MRI scheduled for Monday to determine whether his injury has healed or not. The expectation is that he'll be good to go. It hasn't been decided whether Segura will have a brief minor-league rehab assignment or not. 

"I think we're down to days with them," said manager Craig Counsell. "I'm optimistic. They're taking big steps at this point, which is what you want to see. You kind of see the light here with both of those guys."

In 34 games, Segura is slashing .262/.306/.373. 

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson went 2 for 6 at the plate in Atlanta's 3-2 win over the Brewers on Saturday in 11 innings. 

Peterson was just 1 for 5 before stepping to the plate in the 11th with runners on second and third. He ripped the first pitch he saw from Brandon Kintzler into left center field to score the game-winning run for Atlanta. 

"[Peterson] had a great at-bat," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez to MLB.com. "First pitch, got him. Base hit. When you play that long, especially at home, it's nice to win those games."

Peterson is now hitting .264 with 18 RBI in 129 at-bats this season.

"I was trying to be aggressive," Peterson said. "Trying to get a fastball, and he threw it first pitch, so I was just trying to get a base hit and trying to get the run in."

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez launched his eighth home run of the season in the 8-2 victory over the Mets on Saturday. Alvarez, who also had an RBI-double on the afternoon, hit his solo home run in the bottom of the first off Matt Harvey, giving his club an early 3-0 lead. 

This was his third home run over his last 10 games, but is still sporting a low .233 batting average on the season. 

“It’s always good when Pedro drives in a couple runs in a game,” manager Clint Hurdle said, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Usually works out well for us.”

Shelved Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon, who has been sidelined all season with knee and oblique injuries, took batting practice Saturday for the first time since going down, per CSNWashington.com.

Rendon is still quite far away from returning to the team, however. He still must participate in similated games starting early next week before heading out on a rehab assignment. There remains no timetable for him to rejoin the Nationals.

"He feels good where he is at right now," manager Matt Williams said about Rendon. "We'll assess again tomorrow and see. After yesterday, he reported today feeling great."

Cubs Opening Day third baseman Mike Olt is making progress in recovering from a fractured wrist, suffered in the second week of the season. 

Olt got the cast off of his wrist last week and took batting practice for the first time this week. 

When Olt returns, he'll find out that his spot has been filled by rookie Kris Bryant. 

"Kris is doing a great job right now, and I’m just making sure I get this back to 100 percent and be able to play with that team wherever they need me," Olt said, per the Chicago Sun Times.

There's a possibility Olt may play the outfield when he returns to the Cubs. 

Rockies slumping slugger Nolan Arenado will occupy the second spot in the order Friday against San Francisco for just the second time this season.

Arenado, who began the season on fire, has just 10 hits in his last 51 at-bats with one home run during that stretch. His average has fallen from .314 to .270 while he has fanned 12 times in the last 10 games.